(to correct Russel's time statement, it's actually only been 'a few' months, around 7, not a year.)

Mirica shrugged and looked at Toc. "Does not explain talkative lich, but if Russel is consciously or unconsciously working for Larloch, he already knows a lot. Your elves will know where to go to secure another Mythallar, should we discover one, right? Nothing changes except we have two ruins to investigate now." She looked at Russel again "Why do you think that lich did not get what he wanted? Is there any way to learn what is going on around your home now, before we go there? It sounds like Nhalloth is still closer, we can search that ruins, while someone is getting the news about your home."

     "Wait.  I'm confused.  We're suddenly wary of Russel now because he was researching the same thing we are?  We met him here, in these rooms.  Wasn't it obvious from that he had some interest in what is here?" Fianna asks, legitimately confused.  "What exactly makes him scarier now than then?"

     "Plus...  I am pretty sure most peoples have homes?  Heck, even gnomes do..."

     While saying this, Fianna moves over to stand with Russel.  Because at this point she does indeed stand with Russel and sees no reason not to.  "You're going to have to explain this to me much better before you start drawing blades or any other nonsense.  I know Russel.  I like Russel.  We've done arts and crafts together.  He is who he is, which is more than some of us..."

Toc regards all this back and forth with a bit of a raised eyebrow, then seems to decide something, and makes a calming motion with his hands,  "Alright, alright. Fianna, fair points. Mirica, fair points. Russel...thank you for sharing, and sorry for being so jumpy, it was rude and uncalled for.  If you want to enlighten us about this other Lich at some point, that'd be great, if not, fine, I honestly don't think it's crucial. Now, if I'm getting this information correct, the ruin location in these notes from the Hillsfar university talk about are in the north of Anauroch, and they are not the same as Russel's home. And it sounds like Russel's home was a false lead for the Lich anyway. These notes describe an ancient ruin, far to the north in the Anauroch desert. There is a ruin called Ascore, an old dwarven city. Well, north and east of there, out in the sands of the desert is another ruin, near a small mountain. The scribes found some information about it having once, long ago, been called Hlaungadath, which one of the professors swears is a Netheril name, and believes it was once a Netheril city. I can concur, from our research, Hlaungadath was indeed a Netheril city. So, now it seems we do indeed have two paths we can follow." 

He is quick to pull out a large wheeled board from between the rows of books. It has a map on it with two pins stuck on it.  He grabs another pin from the desk.....draws his finger along part of the map, and puts the pin in.  

"From left, to right, here are the pins.......down here by the Trollbark forest....is the Warlock's Crypt, which was once known as the Netheril city of Orbedal. Next, up here, by the Citadel Adbar...this is Hlaungadath...that Russel has just revealed to us. Obviously the third one is on Myth Drannor and is the city Thulthanthar...we're standing in its ruin right now. Then far to the east in Aglarond is the ruin of Nhalloth." 

"Oh, don't worry yourself so much. It was just about few facts that do not match and the story, that makes no sense. But against arts and crafts together it's nothing, really. Glad you found an error-free method to assess people's truthfulness, we needed it." Mirica yawned and excused herself with a smile, "Sorry, too much reading, not enough sleep. As I was saying, it does not matter that much anyway - we expect spies, aren't we?" She looked at Toc. "And Larloch knows we are searching for Mythallars."  "So, the question here is not "how to hide the search" but more "how to secure our findings"".

"Nhalloth still looks closer, or am I reading it wrong? And there are no roads leading to Hlaungadath. May be not that important for us, but might be a problem for reinforcements. With the choice between sand and water, I say - Nhalloth first".

Chen sits there watching this all unfold, a plate of finger food in one hand, the other holding a fork with a piece of cut melon, poised half-way to his hanging-wide-open mouth...

Nuzej, after helping with some of the explanation, fades to the background during the back and forth, silently raising his index finger while opening his mouth, and then dropping his finger and closing his mouth.

When there is a quiet stretch, he says, "I've been wondering if there's a way to fashion a demiplane for the mythallar to be moved into. Similar to the ones you all can create and access. It'd likely take some doing, but if we can take the pieces completely off the board, that would make the situation more secure. If Larloch can't get to them at all, then we're all safer. I've also been wondering about scrying on him and his associates to learn more of what they do and what they know. Similarly, it'd be smart for us to seek out protections against divination, through spell or item. If he can see and listen to us whenever he wants, we're not much of a threat to him."

When the topic turns to Russel, he reads the note if he's allowed. "I am sorry for your loss. Do you remember which lich, and one day, I'd like to hear about your home, if you wish to speak of it."

     "Be flippant if you wish.  It does seem your default these days.  But the point is that we have no more reason to distrust Russel than we do anyone else here.  None of us are lifelong bosom buddies who know everything about the other.  I suppose we could find someone who could cast a spell forcing the truth about us all and do a whole interview and interrogation... But then we'd have to truth test that spell caster.  And then whoever truth proofed them.  And so on, and so on, and so on...." Fianna suggests.  "It's of course not out of line to question one another's motives, but I merely suggest we not be too quick to dispose of someone just because they may be a threat down the line.  I believe you made that argument to me not that long ago... Was I wrong to be convinced?"

     To Nuzej, Fianna wonders aloud about the use of a demiplane to hold the Mythallar.  "Moving it is... problematic.  No?  We can't just roll it where we want it.  Which is why my idea of letting nature tear it apart if far flung, as it's been destroying anything that touches it in the first place.  I certainly cannot create a demiplane large enough to contain it.  Not in one piece, anyway...  I wonder...  If I created the doorway to the demiplace in such a way that it enveloped part of the Mythallar and then allowed the door to close... Would the small portion in the demiplane remain there when the door closed or is it more powerful than the closing doorway and will remain here?  We could experiment with that, easy enough..."

     "Creating a large enough demiplane to contain it as a whole...  That is beyond me.  Not to say it is impossible but a concern is also that these demiplanes are not guaranteed secure.  Anyone can enter a demiplane I create if they can access them in the first place and know enough about the plane I created - it's texture, it's contents and such. They are very much an open room that anyone can enter so long as they know where it is."

"The power of art!" Mirica sounded impressed. "If you so wish I can summon the zone of truth and we all can go through it. But as funny as watching the pot calling the kettle black here is, you are wasting your breath - look around, no one is worried. Toc had a question, asked it, got his answers. Now we are talking about where to go next. Has preferences?"

     Fianna rolls her eyes and then turns and walks back to the room with the Mythallar to think.

Chen loves Toc's map, and goes to take a closer look, poring over every detail while still munching on his snacks. Taking ship to Aglarond is probably quicker and easier than crossing the desert, if that makes any difference to anyone, he offers.

Toc, looking for anything that seems like agreement between the group, immediately grabs hold of Chen's comment, "That's two votes for Nhalloth. It seems a natural first location to investigate to me as well, so let's call that three votes. Nuzej, Russel, are you both satisfied with Aglarond?  And Nuzej, per your comment, I have been casting a spell, each day, that prevents scrying and spying on the Mythallar room and these side rooms. So, we've certainly had our privacy that way. If I were to stay here for a full year casting such a spell, it would become permanent, but....I think we have other priorities. Or...maybe not. Perhaps i stay here, and continue my research while the group travels, use magic to catch up to you, and....make the commitment to travel back here each day. It is possible."

He exchanges a few silent messages with Tic, as is his way, and Tic walks out of the room.

Tic approaches Fianna in the Mythallar room, "Toc would like to know if you think exploring the well known ruins of Nhalloth, across the Sea of Fallen stars, is an ok first move."

     "Sure," Fianna says as she tosses some dirt and moss or whatever other natural type elements she can at the Mythrllar in experimentation.

The dirt and moss sparkle as they touch the Mythallar and are disintegrated. 

((Assumed as much.  Also assume any spells Fianna has have no effect on it?  Fire, Cold, Force, etc?  Dispel Magic, lol.  If I do create a door to a demiplace so that the door is around a portion but not touching, then dismiss door... I assume a bit of sphere not left in demiplane...  Just covering all the bases of things that won't work.))

She begins experimenting with her magic. The sphere seems to absorb it all, and the demi-plane spell fails when attempting to fashion a portion of the door over the Mythallar. The only thing so far she's seen not absorbed or disintegrated by it was the book. 

((Well she'd consider attuning to the book, but she's no wizard.))

At Nuzej’s question about which lich it was Russel shakes his head no. He then quietly takes a few steps back. Out of the limelight in a manner of speaking as Fianna helps defend his continued presence in the group.

When asked by Toc if he is okay with the proposed plan, Russel nods in agreement. Let’s out a squawk like a parrot. “When do we sail?” (Think cotton’s parrot from pirates of the Caribbean.)

Toc plans to send Tic with the rest of the group, but otherwise remain behind and continue to research the material for more clues and information. Nuzej is welcome to remain behind with him if he wants. As is Fianna. 

He'll keep in touch with them daily using magic. When the group nears their goal, in several weeks, he'll then teleport to them and join them on their investigation of the ruins. 

Any thoughts about this plan? 

     "Well obviously we cannot leave both Toc and Nuzej at home.  We don't want to go into this search without a wizard at our side," Fianna says.  Quickly, she follows it up by saying "No offense, Toc."

     "You can contact me magically if you need our transportation demiplane opened.  I'll not use my use of it until just before I retire for the evening, if at all possible, to keep the option open for you,' Fianna advises.  Otherwise she is ready to go...